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Bahamas Prime Minister Speaks at 76th Session of UN General Assembly

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SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2021

“Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to

the needs of the planet, respect the rights of

people and revitalize the United Nations” Introduction

 

 

#TheBahamas, September 26, 2021 – Esteemed Colleague Heads of State and Heads of Government, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres;

President of the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives:

On September 16th, Bahamian citizens took to the polls to make their voices heard.   It is an honour to meet with you fewer than ten days after this peaceful exercise of the democratic process.

I wish to extend congratulations to the

Maldives, a sister Small Island Developing State, on their election to the helm of this General Assembly. Know that you will find The Bahamas to be a strong, engaged and thoughtful partner for the road ahead.

We also congratulate Secretary-General Gutteres on his re-election to a second term, and wish him every success.

Colleagues, we are meeting at a most extraordinary time. We come here from different corners of the earth, with our theme — “building resilience through hope” – reflecting our shared determination to pivot from crisis to opportunity.

These crises are inter-connected and multifaceted, and need a global response.    We must collaborate to end the Covid-19 pandemic and address public health issues.

We must co-operate to mitigate the effects of climate change.

And access to development financing must be equitable and fair.

An inadequate response to these issues will have dire consequences for the global economy.

 

Collaborating to End the Pandemic

The world has changed enormously since we first learned about the COVID-19 virus.

This crisis made abundantly clear what has always been true: we’re all in this together.

In every country, we have lost loved ones. We have seen our healthcare workers battle bravely. We have contended with disruption, uncertainty, and grief.

We have benefited from extraordinary cooperation and achievements in science, but we also had to contend with misinformation and disinformation,  and insufficient attempts to curb bad actors propagating the same. Bad information has flowed across borders, undermining public health and public trust.

The pandemic has been very difficult for countries like mine. We face an extraordinary need for new resources in health and education and housing just as our economy is contracting dramatically.

Our inter-connected world means that we will only be safe when all countries, including mine, have the tools needed to fight this virus.

This requires the equitable distribution of vaccines. That includes distribution to Small Island Developing States, who are not manufacturers. Stockpiling for self-preservation is a fallacy.

You will only be safe when we are all safe!

I wish to thank the Government and People of the United States for their donations of vaccines to The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region.

This gift, alongside donations received previously from India, China, Antigua & Barbuda, and Dominica, will save many Bahamian lives. This is in addition to the ongoing support of PAHO, CARPHA and the COVAX facility and the regional collaboration among CARICOM countries.

But this is still not enough. We need more. Our demand for vaccines has significantly outstripped supply.

Along with vaccines, it is important that safe treatments and therapeutics, are made accessible and designated as public goods. We need to fortify critical global supply chains, and distribution mechanisms, so that we can win this battle, and be better prepared for the next one.      You will only be safe, when we are all safe!    The Bahamas joins those reiterating the need to fully fund the ‘Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator’ and its COVAX facility. And we reiterate our alignment with CARICOM’s call for continued high-level engagement to urgently address access to vaccines.

When vaccines are deployed to reduce transmission, everyone is made safer –  not just the direct recipient.  We can, by doing so, reduce the opportunities for new and more dangerous variants to emerge. This virus is  global and requires a global response. COP26 Matters/ Disasters Response

Colleagues, even before COVID-19 shut down my country’s borders, we were dealing with a catastrophic shock to our economy and our country.

Two years ago this month, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic caused catastrophic damage to our islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Hurricane Dorian was strengthened by waters that were well above average temperatures; the earth’s changing climate means that hurricanes like Dorian linger longer and cause more damage.

The devastation caused by this storm is part of our country’s landscape; the physical and emotional wreckage are still with us.

Recently I spoke with a woman who lost her husband and her three children in the storm. Every rainfall is a reminder of the horror. How can we continue to do nothing in the face of such tragedy?

The very worst thing about Dorian is our sense of foreboding – our sense that this hurricane, which took so much from so many – is only the beginning.

None of us believe this is a once-in-a-generation storm. Instead, we know it is a nightmare that could easily recur – tomorrow, next week, next month.

To any leader who believes we still have plenty of time to address climate change, I invite you to visit Abaco and Grand Bahama.

For island nations such as ours, climate change is here. And is a real and present danger.

Before Hurricane Dorian in 2019, we faced hurricanes: in 2015, in 2016, and in 2017.  We cannot survive this “new normal”.

Thus, we are not here to call for measured steps. We are here to say that big and radical change is the only response that can save our country. We are out of time.

We stand with CARICOM countries and Small Island Developing States to remind the world that those who are hit hardest by the impact of climate change, are the least responsible.

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report warned that avoiding the worst outcomes requires immediate action; this is, as the Secretary-General noted, a ‘Code Red’ moment.

Our countries disproportionately bear the burden of the “Recovery Trap”, in which we attempt to rebuild to the tune of billions – billions we never had, even before COVID.

 

Colleagues, in a few short weeks, we will meet in Glasgow, Scotland.

The 26th Climate Change Conference cannot be like the twenty-five that preceded it – we cannot pretend that incremental change is sufficient. We cannot set goals we have no intention of meeting. We cannot keep postponing the change we need for countries like mine to survive.

If we are the serious leaders these times require, we must raise our ambitions, and make real commitments to cut emissions.

We must make real progress on bridging the divides in investment, and access-to-technology and skills, especially in areas relevant to climate mitigation and adaptation.

We must strengthen technical assistance for creating, nationally-determined contribution (NDC) commitments, along with commensurate ‘implementation financing’.

We must give teeth and substance to the mechanism for loss and damage if it is to be a meaningful tool for supporting fair recovery, and not simply an exercise in defining and highlighting disaster risk.

Along with our sister nations in CARICOM,

The Bahamas calls for greater climate financing and the need for more engagement and progress on a Climate Investment Platform.

And, as a matter of priority, more innovative financing and debt solutions are needed, including debt for climate adaptation swaps. We also look forward to the capitalization of a Caribbean Resilience Fund. We also need adequate resourcing and timely access to the ‘Green Climate Fund’ and the ‘Climate Finance Accelerator’.

In our just-concluded campaign, we called for new renewable energy initiatives in our own country. We are going to build structural and economic resilience, in a green recovery, with plans to invest in climate-smart infrastructure and environmental protection.

The Bahamas will lead on wetland and ocean preservation, and we will seek re-election to the International Maritime Organization. We look forward to the Biodiversity Conference

next month; we are committed to the successful conclusion of negotiations towards an international treaty to conserve marine bio-diversity.  Advancing an MVI/ Affordable, Accessible Development Financing

Colleagues, the compounding impact of economic, environmental, and now public health shocks, means that access to affordable finance will be the real driver of progress in the near and long term.

The global development financing gap for meeting Sustainable Development Goals by

2030, estimated in 2019 to be $2.5 trillion, is only increasing.

Today we reiterate our country’s support for the inclusion of a Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index in the decision-making of international financial institutions, and the international donor community.

On a related front, we believe that access to the global financial system and tax cooperation should not be undermined: by ad hoc and consistently shifting and arbitrary goal posts, and threats of exclusion from the global economy.

Financial Services is a crucial component of the Bahamian economy. We see an indispensable role for the UN in leveraging its universal jurisdiction for greater oversight of global antimoney laundering, de-risking and tax cooperation matters.

Cuba

On a separate note, I wish to convey The Bahamas’ rejection of the ongoing economic blockade of our sister Caribbean nation of Cuba.

Conclusion

As I conclude, I recall the words of our nation’s first Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling, as he stood here 48 years ago this month, on the occasion of our nation’s accession to the United Nations.

He spoke about the journey of our people, from slavery to colonialism to sovereign independence.

He spoke of our country’s wish to be neither dominated nor coerced, and our wish to build friendships with nations who respected our freedom.

He could not have foreseen at that time the challenges we face today, with intensifying hurricanes and a deadly virus that has left no nation untouched. But he saw already that “no nation is an island unto itself” and spoke of the interdependence of all countries.    That interdependence has never been clearer.

Rest assured, colleagues, that in The Bahamas you will find a trusted partner, committed to moving forward on our collective goals for sustainable development, security, and peace.

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Concierge Auctions Anticipates Strong Bidding Activity for Unique Short-term Luxury Rental Properties Demand for The Bahamas & Caribbean Soars

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Coconut Island Estate Listed for $5.4M, a luxurious retreat in Casuarina Point, presents an exceptional beachfront opportunity with proven rental income potential.

The Bahamas, February 8, 2025 – Calling the demand for sophisticated short-term vacation rentals ‘unprecedented,’ a Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions executive anticipates strong activity when bidding opens on two unique Caribbean-based properties – one in The Bahamas, another in Jamaica – this month.

A heated pool overlooks pristine white sand beaches, while the beachfront bar and grill create an ideal entertainment setting. Immaculate landscaping enhances the natural beauty of this one-acre sanctuary.

“It is extraordinary that two distinct properties, each designed with spaciousness, attention to architectural style and detail, as well as amenities that cater to a highly sophisticated luxury market, come to market at the same time,” said Danny Prell, Vice President of Business Development at the world’s largest luxury real estate auction house.

He stated that both properties offer a component critical to the demanding high-end vacation rental client – a unique location with unmatched beauty, privacy and serenity.

One of the properties, Coconut Island Estate in Abaco in the northern Bahamas, already has a proven track record of rental success, generating a significant six-figure income. Situated on a stretch of baby powder soft beach in the chain of islands known as the ‘sailing capital of The Bahamas’, the estate consists of four separate houses with a total of 10 bedrooms and nearly 9,000 square feet of space. The residence features a beachside bar and grill, a heated pool, and ample opportunities for guests to enjoy swimming and snorkeling without leaving the property. For those seeking adventure, nearby charter options offer boating, fishing, diving, or excursions to charming neighboring islands and settlements.

Kenyan Sunset Listed for $3.5M; offers a distinct fusion of Caribbean elegance and African inspiration across two majestic acres in prestigious Caribbean Heights. This exceptional estate comprises three thoughtfully designed structures, each embodying unique charm.

The second offering, Kenyan Sunset in Montego Bay, Jamaica is sprawled across two acres with three residences perched high atop a hill overlooking two world-famous golf courses and the historic Rose Hall Great House. Its fusion of Caribbean and African lends colour and features that give it the appeal of an architectural magazine cover. The main house features three bedrooms, a private office, a fully equipped kitchen designed for entertaining, a wine cellar, a media room, and a gym, all centered around a private pool. A second pool is located at one of the two cottages.

“The short-term vacation rental industry as we know it today was unheard of just a generation ago,” said Prell. “Globally, it is generating upwards of $87 billion annually and there is no sign of a slowdown. What is less well-known is the demand for luxury properties where those of a certain economic standing can enjoy all the family, friends and colleagues they want to have around them in a non-commercial environment. These properties, Coconut Island Estate in the Abacos of The Bahamas and Kenyan Sunset in Montego Bay, are quintessential opportunities for the client who wants everything at his or her fingertips in a location that is easy to access and hard to leave.”

The estate’s elevated position between the renowned White Witch and Cinnamon Hill golf courses delivers spectacular views, while sharing grounds with the historic Rose Hall Great House adds to its prestigious providence.

Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions is working in collaboration with local Sotheby’s associates in both locations. Coconut Island Estate is listed by Mitzi Pearce of Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty for $5.4 million with bidding expected to start between $1 million–$1.75 million. Kenya Sunset is listed by Coleen Samuels and Julian Dixon of Jamaica Sotheby’s International Realty for $3.5 million with bidding expected to open between $750,000 and $1.25 million. Both auctions are scheduled to open on February 21 and close on March 1 as part of an inaugural live sale event during ModaMiami in Coral Gables, Florida. Prell said he would not be surprised if a single bidder opts for both.

“Finding one revenue generating property at this level in excellent condition is rare, finding two in the same region at the same time is extraordinary,” he said. “It should be exciting and one of the most active auctions we have had in recent history because both lend themselves to the opportunity for owners to enjoy when they want and earn revenue when they wish.”

 

About Concierge Auctions

Concierge Auctions is the world’s largest luxury real estate auction marketplace, with a state-of-the-art digital marketing, property preview, and bidding platform. The firm matches sellers of one-of-a-kind homes with some of the most capable property connoisseurs on the planet. Sellers gain unmatched reach, speed, and certainty. Buyers receive curated opportunities. Agents earn their commission in 30 days. Acquired by Sotheby’s, the world’s premier destination for fine art and luxury goods, and Anywhere Real Estate, Inc (NYSE: HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, Concierge Auctions continues to operate independently, partnering with real estate agents affiliated with many of the industry’s leading brokerages to host luxury auctions for clients. For Sotheby’s International Realty listings and companies, Concierge Auctions provides Sotheby’s brand exclusivity as Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions. Since inception in 2008, the firm has generated billions of dollars in sales, broken world records for the highest-priced homes ever sold at auction and sold properties in 46 U.S. states and 35 countries. The firm owns one of the most comprehensive and intelligent databases of high-net-worth real estate buyers and sellers in the industry, and it has committed to build more than 300 homes through its Key For Key® giving program in partnership with Giveback Homes™, which funds new homes for families in need from every property the company sells. For more information, visit ConciergeAuctions.com.

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Exuma Airport Project On Target for December Completion for First Phase

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By BETTY VEDRINE

Bahamas Information Services

Nassau, The Bahamas, February 8, 2025 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper led a delegation of government officials, with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, and his team, on a tour of the Exuma Airport on Tuesday, 4th February.

The tour was conducted during the IDB’s team’s XIII Consultation with Caribbean Governors Conference in Nassau.

The Exuma Airport Project is part of the IDB-financed Airport Infrastructure Program loan in the amount of $35 million to support the upgrade and improve four airports in the Family islands, which include airdrome facilities in Exuma, North Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay.

Minister Cooper delivered welcome remarks and said that the project is a ‘game changer’ for the economy of Exuma. “This project signals a great partnership between the Government of The Bahamas and the IDB,” said Mr. Cooper.  “It will improve and empower the economy and people of Exuma and the people of the South and Central Bahamas.”

President Goldfajn said that the project not only changes the economy but also increases the island’s resilience when faced with natural disaster, it will assist in health emergencies, and the flexibility of travel between the islands.

Engineer at the Ministry of Works, Charlene Collie led a guided tour of the site, explained the scope of work to be carried out, and gave an update on what has been completed.

The scope of work includes: pavement rehabilitation works for apron, taxiway and runway; new taxiway installation; installation of new fencing and new drainage infrastructure; installation of new airside lighting and electrical; installation of navigational aids and runway markings.

To date, the work completed includes: 100% of the clearing and grubbing drainage infrastructure, 100% of the fencing, 76% of earthworks and currently ongoing electrical and pavement works.

It is anticipated that the airport project will improve access to health care facilities, employment and services; benefit more than 258,000 passengers annually; facilitate greater access to domestic and international travel; improve safety and efficiency of air travel; and enhance climate resilient infrastructure.

The delegation was also given a tour of the island.

 

(BIS Photos/Carlyle Sands)

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Generous Emergency Response Vehicle Donation to the Police Force from the City of Miramar

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From: Bahamas Information Services

February 7, 2025

Hon. Leon Lundy

GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — West Grand Bahama is set to benefit from a significant boost in public safety resources following a generous donation of emergency response vehicles from the City of Miramar, southern Broward County, Florida.  On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Royal Bahamas Police Force received a total of 11 vehicles at a ‘Law Enforcement Vehicle Donation to the Royal Bahamas Police Force Surplus Handover Ceremony’ held at Miramar Town Center Plaza.  As part of this donation, the residents of West Grand Bahama will receive two police vehicles and one ambulance, enhancing the community’s emergency response capabilities.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Disaster Risk Management, the Hon. Leon Lundy, who led the Bahamas delegation; Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles; Kingsley Smith, Jr., Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, along with other distinguished guests.

Minister of State Leon Lundy stated: “Hon. Mayor Messam, Hon. Kingsley Smith, my parliamentary colleague, Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kirkwood Andrews, Consul General Curt Hollingsworth, Deputy Consul Sheila Cartwright, esteemed City Commissioners, City Manager, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

“It is with great appreciation that I stand before you today on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to formally accept these public safety vehicles from the City of Miramar. This generous contribution is not just a transfer of resources — it is a demonstration of the deep and enduring partnership between our communities.

“Public safety is the backbone of any thriving society. As our Family Islands continue to grow, so does the need for enhanced infrastructure, reliable transportation, and the tools necessary to protect and serve our communities effectively. These vehicles will be put to immediate and purposeful use, strengthening the ability of law enforcement officers to respond swiftly, safeguard our residents, and uphold the peace and security that is vital to our national development.

“We recognize that access to proper infrastructure should not be limited to our capital city or major population centers. Our smaller, less populated Islands deserve the same level of investment and support to ensure that every Bahamian — no matter where they live — can feel safe and protected. This exchange represents not just an upgrade in equipment but an investment in the well-being of our people and the future of our islands.

“On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas, I extend my sincere gratitude to Mayor Messam, the City Commissioners, and the people of Miramar for this meaningful gesture. Your commitment to strengthening ties between our nations and supporting public safety in The Bahamas is truly commendable.  “We look forward to continued collaboration, deeper friendships, and shared progress as we work together to enhance the lives of our citizens.”

Mr. Kingsley Smith expressed his appreciation for the donation, stating, “The people of West Grand Bahama and Bimini will benefit immensely from this generous gift. The vehicles that will be dispatched to our area will not only enhance our ability to respond to emergencies but also serve as a reminder of the strong bond that exists between our communities and the unwavering support we receive from our friends in Miramar.”

 

(Photos/Courtesy RBPF, Kingsley Smith, Adrian Thompson)

PHOTO CAPTIONS: 

Header: Minister Leon Lundy, centre; Mayor Wayne Messam, centre right; and Consul General Curt Hollingsworth, centre left

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